Angel’s Envy has announced the release of its Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey Finished in Ice Cider Casks. It is the fourth release in their Cellar Collection, the Kentucky brand’s special release program that honors the late Lincoln Henderson’s pioneering and innovative spirit.
Angel’s Envy created this first-of-its-kind release by finishing seven-year-old, 95% rye whiskey for 364 days in ice cider casks from Vermont-based Eden Specialty Ciders. Bottled at 107-proof (53.5% ABV), the whiskey offers notes of caramel candy apple and toasted oak on the nose, with faint notes of nuttiness and cinnamon. The palate features bold peppery and cinnamon flavors accompanied by vanilla, ripe apple, toffee, and butterscotch. The finish is long and transitions from spicy to sweet, with notes of brown sugar and apple with hints of earthiness and oak.
“The flavor profile of this whiskey is very unique – the spiciness of the rye is balanced by the fruity sweetness from the ice cider casks, and there’s a crispness that is really distinct. We’ve never seen a whiskey finished in ice cider casks before, so we’re excited to introduce this finish as part of our Cellar Collection,” said Kyle Henderson, Angel’s Envy’s Distillery Production Manager. “My brother, Andrew, was the one who found these barrels and raised the idea of an ice cider finish; he’s really championed this project from the beginning. As we tasted samples and learned more about the craftsmanship, time and resources required to create each bottle of ice cider, we fell in love with the product and the process and knew these special casks would be an excellent match for our rye.”
Ice cider is a dessert-style cider that is produced primarily in the northern US and Canada. The French oak casks used to finish this Angel’s Envy release were used by Eden Specialty Ciders to create an ice cider from tart, late-season Northern Spy apples that had been naturally cold-concentrated in Vermont before partial fermentation and aging.
Inspired by the unique, climate-driven elements of ice cider production, Angel’s Envy packaged its Rye Whiskey Finished in Ice Cider Casks in a frosted glass bottle and commemorative gift box.
Just 6,000 bottles total of the new whiskey will be made available for purchase beginning on February 25 at select retailers in NY, CA, FL, TN, IL, TX and KY, as well as at Angel’s Envy’s downtown Louisville distillery. Angel’s Envy 500 Main members can enter for the chance to purchase one of 500 bottles ahead of the public sale for pickup at Angel’s Envy’s distillery.
Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey Finished in Ice Cider Casks is priced at $249.99 per 750ml bottle.
For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
In October, Angel’s Envy unveiled its 2021 Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrel, the tenth release in their Cask Strength series. In May, the distillery launched the third edition in its Cellar Collection, a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Madeira Casks.
